Professionals in League of Legends, who woke up this morning, had to rub their eyes at what is happening in the professional scene of LoL in the USA. The US professionals had gone on strike to push for more money and support, but after Riot’s cold response, it seems they are now willing to yield.
This is the lead-up to the conflict:
- In the USA, there has been tension in the professional scene for months. Players and teams complain that it is becoming less attractive to play LoL professionally in the USA. The rules are becoming increasingly player-unfriendly. Teams are going bankrupt or moving to other regions, the rules are changing, and especially rookie teams are hit hard.
- The players announced a strike and made 5 demands. Until these are met, they do not intend to play on June 1, at the start of the season.
- However, Riot remained tough and resorted to unusually harsh methods.
Players’ Union Strikes, Makes 5 Demands
What were the players’ demands? The players’ union called on Riot Games for several changes that should provide more money and security for players and teams in the 1st and 2nd leagues.
The 5 master players in the LCS should receive a ‘guaranteed minimum contract’ in the LCS in the coming years.
Moreover, Riot Games should promote the 2nd league with promotion matches, as they do with Valorant, and the 2nd league should be financially supported much more strongly by Riot Games. They demanded $300,000 per team per year.
In addition, more security for rookie teams that are dissolved and more freedom for LCS teams to make deals with other partners were demanded.
To make it short: The players demand that Riot Games subsidizes the 2nd league, NACL, with several million US dollars.
Riot Games Threatens to Cancel Everything
What was Riot Games’ reaction? The reaction from Riot Games was extremely tough (via lolesports). The global head of esports, Naz Aletaha, initially announced that she understands all the problems.
She said that they firmly believe in the LCS and strive to build a good development system like in other regions.
We need an esports league that one day brings the World Championship trophy back to North America. And we need a stable, economically healthy, and predictable league that supports an ecosystem around it for players, teams, analysts, coaches, staff, casters, and others.
They are observing the ‘esports winter’ at Riot Games and considering how to respond. They see difficulties in the 2nd league of the USA and want to change something here. The ‘academy system’ has been ineffective, so they are trying to establish a new model, the NACL, to bring more players from the 2nd league to the 1st. They want to support this financially.
To ensure quality, they are now postponing the season by 2 weeks.
Then Riot’s esports chief disappeared as the good cop and brought out the bad cop. Aletaha said that if the players really proceeded with the strike, they would cancel the entire summer season of the LCS, and thus no US team would qualify for Worlds:
That’s not the outcome we want, but unfortunately, it’s the reality if we want to guarantee a fair, global competition.
Riot Rejects Demands – Does Not Want to Support 2nd League with So Much Money
Regarding the individual points of the players, Riot’s esports chief says:
- A relegation like in Valorant will not happen, as they cannot let teams that have paid $10 million for a spot be relegated from the LCS
- Guaranteed contracts for the best players of the year will also not be made – teams should decide that for themselves.
- The 2nd league cannot be financially supported with millions of dollars each year as demanded. Leagues in other countries manage on their own.
- Any commitments that dissolved teams in the 2nd league stay together cannot be made either. Teams and organizations provide structure and stability – not the players.
- Only with the possibility for LCS teams to seek partners does Riot concede a bit. 1st league organizations could collaborate with 2nd league teams. They allow this already and will continue to allow it.
European Pro Looks On in Amazement
What is the reaction? The reaction is overall a: ‘What the hell is going on?’ They are surprised by the harsh tone and the consequences Riot threatens.
The former world-class jungler Jankos, now 27, says: ‘I wake up and the USA is one big shitshow – Where am I supposed to spend my retirement now?’
This refers to the fact that many ‘washed-up EU professionals’ go to the USA at the end of their careers to make money there.
Some observers say: What were the players thinking? The LCS is a ‘subsidy operation’ for Riot Games. Riot might even be glad if they could cancel the league.
The US players apparently overestimated how much pressure they could exert on Riot.
Players’ Union Seems to Be Giving In, Wants to Seek Dialogue
How do the US players react? After Riot rejected almost all demands, one might assume that the players’ union reacts angrily, but the opposite is true.
The players’ union appears combative but seems to be verbally de-escalating. They say: ‘There is no league without players.’
They feel constantly excluded from the decisions and therefore called the strike.
Now they want to meet with Riot Games daily to find an agreement.
Apparently, Riot Games’ threat has had an effect. The players’ union’s goal is now to get the players back on the stages of the LCS.
It sounds as if they jumped at Riot Games like a tiger but now end up as a doormat. Riot Games seems to be holding the upper hand. They are not as dependent on the LCS as the LCS is on Riot Games:
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